Alec Klasna Woodward
COMPASS
(206) 558-1169
157 Total Sales
1 in Old Town
$1,225,000 Price
Old Town
Neighborhood in Tacoma, Washington
Pierce County 98402, 98403, 98407
The water defines Old Town in Tacoma. If you’re not getting a view of Commencement Bay off Puget Sound, you’re not getting Old Town. “A lot of the houses, and I mean a lot of the houses, have water views,” says Marguerite Mattingly, who sells homes with MacGregor & Forbes, LLC and has spent the past 35 years as a Realtor in and around Old Town. “That’s one reason people go there. It’s not just the streets and houses. Part of the whole neighborhood is the water. It’s a big part of everybody’s lives.”
This old lumber town is built on a hill. There’s one major street that goes from the freeway right up to the very place where Tacoma was born. “That’s where people who worked on the waterfront lived,” Mattingly says. Present-day Old Town stretches up and down the hills along narrow streets lined mostly with craftsman-styled homes that harken back to the earliest parts of the century past. Newly constructed houses are more modernly styled. “You still have fairly big lots where the sawmill bosses lived and big houses on them. The smaller houses belonged to the workers back when people didn’t have a lot,” Mattingly explains.
Generations beyond its humble origins, the cost of owning a home in Old Town has come a long way. The median price for a home here is around $1 million. “And it goes up into the 2 million range depending on the view and the size of the house,” Mattingly says. “Some of the houses sit in a way that they have a 180-degree view of the water.” That sort of view will demand a higher price as well as the footage for houses, some as large at 6,000 square feet. Houses here under $600,000 are harder to find.
Old Town is in the Tacoma School District, which Niche rates B-minus and ranks the sixth most diverse school district out of 247 throughout the state. Students attend Lowell Elementary School, Mason Middle School and Stadium High School, which rank B-plus, B and A-minus respectively.
Old Town has a few parks of its own in the neighborhood. Chances are, however, when locals want a substantial park experience close to home, they’re headed over to Wright Park, a vast green space with sports courts, playgrounds, a picnic area and a trail. It has a pond and bowling club too.
For a good meal, there are restaurants all along the waterfront. The Spar is an Old Town favorite that’s been around as long as anyone can remember. “It has a view of the water from 30th street, which is the main street. That’s where lots and lots of people go,” Mattingly says. “They don’t have a big name plastered along the building. People just know it’s there.”
When they’re not dining on the waterfront, you might catch people shopping in nearby Proctor at Safeway or Metropolitan Market. Or they might go to Stadium Thriftway.
Getting to those places will require a little driving. There’s some new light rail near as well. But most people walk about, bike and roller skate in this place which resembles a postcard come to life. It’s a place that has sailboat races on Tuesdays during the summer that neighbors watch together from one another’s homes. “There’s the Christmas parade, the opening of boat season parade when you go to your neighbor's house, and everybody watches. And there’s a Fourth of July parade,” Mattingly says.
If you move to Old Town, you should plan to become one with the town. Matting explains, “This isn’t a ‘I live here, and I don’t care who my neighbors are’ place. When you come to Old Town, you should expect to know your neighbors.”
Written By
Jonathan Clarke
Photography Contributed By
William King
Video By
Lucas Dyke
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Agents Specializing in this Area
-
Alec Klasna Woodward
-
Hanif Ratansi
Hanif Ratansi
COMPASS
(562) 655-7971
63 Total Sales
1 in Old Town
$775,000 Price
-
Matt Hume
Matt Hume
Responds QuicklyWindermere Prof Partners
(253) 785-8059
234 Total Sales
5 in Old Town
$300K - $1M Price Range
-
Colleen Dutmers
Colleen Dutmers
Responds QuicklyKeller Williams Realty
(253) 683-7320
178 Total Sales
1 in Old Town
$827,500 Price
-
Erik Molzen
Erik Molzen
Responds QuicklyBerkshire Hathaway HS NW
(206) 338-6776
49 Total Sales
1 in Old Town
$800,000 Price
-
Joyce Shipley
Joyce Shipley
Responds QuicklyWindermere Prof Partners
(253) 201-1448
76 Total Sales
1 in Old Town
$1,340,000 Price
Schools
Source:
GreatSchools:
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
- 9th to 12th
- Public
- 6th to 8th
- Public
- Pre-K to 5th
- Public
Interested in learning more about homes in this area? Reach out to , an experienced agent in this neighborhood.
Parks in this Area
Puget Park
Jack Hyde Park
Ursich Park
Old Town Park
Garfield Park
Tacoma Chinese Reconciliation Park
Transit
Crime and Safety
| 1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime | Old Town | US |
|---|---|---|
| Homicide | 1 | 4 |
| Sexual Assault | 2 | 4 |
| Assault with Weapon | 1 | 4 |
| Robbery | 2 | 4 |
| Burglary | 3 | 4 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 3 | 4 |
| Larceny | 3 | 4 |
| Crime Score | 2 | 4 |
Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com
Old Town Demographics and Home Trends
On average, homes in Old Town, Tacoma sell after 42 days on the market compared to the national average of 49 days. The median sale price for homes in Old Town, Tacoma over the last 12 months is $880,000, down 9% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Housing Trends
Median List Price
$850,000
Median Sale Price
$880,000
Median Single Family Sale Price
$900,000
Median Townhouse Sale Price
$699,000
Median 2 Bedroom Sale Price
$659,000
Median Change From 1st List Price
1%
Last 12 months Home Sales
33
Median Home Sale Price YoY Change
-9%
Average Price Per Sq Ft
$488
Neighborhood Facts
Number of Homes in Neighborhood
587
Number of Homes for Sale
5
Median Year Built
1928
Months of Supply
1.80
Average Single Family Home Size Sq Ft
2,273
Above the national average
1,933
Average Townhouse Size Sq Ft
1,950
Average 2 Bedroom Size Sq Ft
1,857
Average 1 Bedroom Size Sq Ft
979
Median Lot Size Sq Ft
6,098
Open Houses
-
Saturday, Jun 1411am - 1pm
$700,000
- 2 Beds
- 2.5 Baths
- 1,841 Sq Ft
- 2405 N 30th St
- Unit 8
- New 13 days ago
Enjoy stunning views of the Ruston Waterfront and Commencement Bay from this charming end-unit in historic Old Town Tacoma. Just steps from waterfront restaurants, scenic walkways, and boutique shops, this home offers the perfect blend of comfort, style, and convenience. The beautifully remodeled kitchen features modern finishes and new GE Café appliances. A spacious family room with custom
Carol Spellacy-Hinman John L. Scott, Inc.
Distribution of Home Values
Homes for Sale
-
$1,225,000
- 3 Beds
- 2.5 Baths
- 2,323 Sq Ft
- 3207 N 31st St
- New 10 days ago
In demand location for this Mid Century Home with BIG VIEWS!! Close proximity to Old Town, Proctor District & Point Ruston. Covered entry leads to large living room with fireplace & wrap around windows with view, dining room adjoins has floating wall buffet that spans room. Extended galley kitchen has plenty of cabinet space features nook wrapped in windows that looks to view & access to patio.
Lisa Carlson Engel & Voelkers Chambers Bay
-
$850,000
- Land
- 8,106 Sq Ft Lot
- 2801 Mccarver St
Rare opportunity to own an oversized corner lot in the heart of Old Town Tacoma with stunning views of Commencement Bay. With new UR-2 zoning in place, this prime property offers incredible flexibility—build a single-family home with an ADU or DADU, subdivide, or explore potential for townhomes or multi-family housing. Located just blocks from Ruston Way and the waterfront, enjoy easy access to
Amy Steele Better Properties N. Proctor
-
$499,900
- 2 Beds
- 1.5 Baths
- 1,134 Sq Ft
- 2006 N 30th St
- Unit 4
Right in the heart of North Tacoma's Old Town neighborhood is a view unit with several nice updates. Enjoy views of Commencement Bay from the living room. SO convenient to beaches, the pedestrian trail along the waterfront, pier and the shops and restaurants of Old Town. Inside find just about all updated laminate flooring throughout. The kitchen features granite countertops and stainless
Tom Hume Windermere Prof Partners
Homes for Rent
Interested in learning more about homes in this area? Reach out to , an experienced agent in this neighborhood.
Average Home Value
Property Mix - Square Feet
This Neighborhood Has More Owners
Demographics
Total Population
1,630
Median Age
47
Population Density
8 ppl/acre
Population under 18
20.7%
On par with the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
24%
On par with the national average
19.1%
Finances
Median Household Income
$152,206
Significantly above the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$168,873
Education and Workforce
High School Graduates
99.2%
College Graduates
66.6%
Significantly above the national average
34.1%
Advanced Degrees
33.6%
Above the national average
13.3%
% Population in Labor Force
73.1%
Weather
Annual Precipitation
40''
Average Winter Low Temperature
37°F
Average Summer High Temperature
77°F
Annual Snowfall
2''
Area Factors
Somewhat Bikeable
Bike Score®
46
/ 100
Somewhat Walkable
Walk Score®
62
/ 100
Source: Walk Score
Source: Walk Score
Sound Score® measures the noise level of any address. Transit Score® measures access to public transit. Bike Score® measures the bikeability of any address.
Nearby Neighborhoods
Stadium District
Home to a historic high school, established estates and Wright Park
North Tacoma
Tacoma peninsula with multiple subdivisions and outdoor recreation
Central Tacoma
The versatile center of this South Sound city
Ruston
Small, mostly residential city on Puget Sound and outside of Tacoma
Downtown Tacoma
Thriving art scene and student community 33 miles from Downtown Seattle
Hilltop
Below market housing situated 1 mile from downtown Tacoma
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